Interview

Meet the Minister

ESF Newsinterviewed Chris Pond to find out his first impressions of ESF and to ask him about some of the issues he is likely to face over the coming years.

ESF News: Congratulations on your appointment to DWP. What’s been your involvement with ESF since you took up your new post?

Chris Pond: Thank you. I’ve actually had quite a heavy involvement. One of my first duties – after fewer than two weeks in the job – was to give evidence on ESF to the Work and Pensions Select Committee. As you may know, the Committee’s been conducting a routine inquiry into DWP’s role in managing ESF. Preparing for the hearing gave me an excellent opportunity to learn about ESF and visit projects on the ground. Though I did feel a bit as though I was being thrown in at the deep end!

ESF News:What were your initial thoughts about ESF?

Chris Pond: What soon became clear to me is that the £500 million or so of ESF available in England each year is adding value to our initiatives to promote employment opportunities for all. I was pleased to be able to report to the Select Committee that around 360,000 people have already benefited from ESF in 2000-02. The final reports of projects tell us that over two-fifths of participants gained some form of qualification, and that about three-quarters of those who completed their ESF-funded courses were in jobs or had started further education or training. Many of the beneficiaries are among those most in need of help in the labour market. One of the leavers’ surveys showed that 16% of participants had been long-term unemployed and 35% had no prior qualifications. It is by helping people like this into jobs that ESF can combat social exclusion and improve the lives of many in our most disadvantaged communities.

“It is by helping people into jobs that ESF can combat social exclusion and improve the lives of many in our most disadvantaged communities.”

ESF News: You mentioned that you’ve already visited some ESF projects. What were your impressions of ESF at delivery level?

Chris Pond: I’ve been impressed by the wide range of activity that I’ve seen, and the commitment of those involved. Perhaps I can give just two examples of the breadth of activity.

There’s a family learning centre just outside my constituency of Gravesham, which is using ESF co-financing to help attract adults back into learning.

While the Jewellery Skills Centre Project in London is providing specialist jewellery skills training. This is both benefiting local unemployed people and helping to safeguard the jobs of existing workers.

ESF News: Do you intend to visit more projects?

Chris Pond: Yes. I’m looking forward to visiting more projects across the country, not just to find out what is happening at local level, but also to help raise the profile of ESF so that more people know about the availability of funding and its benefits.

ESF News: One of the main developments to ESF in England since 2000 has been the introduction of co-financing. What do you think are the benefits of co-financing for applicants?

Chris Pond: One of the main reasons for introducing co-financing is to improve the accessibility of ESF funds. Some of the projects I’ve seen are on a very small scale and would not have got off the ground under the old bidding system. Co-financing has helped them participate because Co-financing Organisations (CFOs)– such as Jobcentre Plus or the Learning and Skills Council – take on much of the administrative burden. For example, applicants no longer need to find domestic match funding, as this is provided by CFOs.

ESF News: So is co-financing attracting new organisations to ESF?

Chris Pond: All the signs are that new organisations are becoming involved in ESF as a result of co-financing– especially, I’m pleased to say, from the voluntary and community sector. Across England as a whole, 31% of co-financing providers are voluntary or community organisations, and this proportion is considerably higher in some regions such as London where it is 45%.

ESF News: ESF programmes are currently being evaluated. Do you expect this to lead to any changes to existing programmes?

Chris Pond: Evaluation reports will be submitted to the European Commission (EC) at the end of this year. Any amendments to programmes would need to be justified by these evaluation findings. However, the Commission has indicated that programmes cannot be rewritten or overhauled unless labour market conditions have changed significantly since 2000. In all probability adjustments will therefore be fairly marginal.

ESF News:What about the release of the so called ‘Performance Reserve’ for Objective 3 in England?

Chris Pond: The main impact of the evaluation – if the programme achieves its key targets – would be to release the Performance Reserve, which contains 4% of the programme budget. This would make an additional £105 million available in the second half of the programme. We expect the Commission to make final decisions on the reserve in spring 2004.

ESF News: Attention is also turning to the future of the Structural Funds after 2006. What do you think is likely to happen to ESF programmes?

Chris Pond: It’s too early to say what the Funds will look like after 2006, although clearly the enlargement of the EU means that there will need to be some changes. We’re waiting for the Commission to publish its proposals at end of this year before negotiations begin next year, with final decisions being made in 2005 or 2006. As you know, the Government has recently consulted on its proposed position on reform of funds. I’m grateful to those ESF partners who contributed – both at the various national and regional events, and in written submissions. These responses are now being analysed and the Government is developing its formal position. We will, of course, keep people informed of developments over the next year or so.

ESF News: Finally is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

Chris Pond: I’d just like to say how much I appreciate the work of all those involved in making a success of our ESF programmes. They are really good examples of genuine partnerships that are underpinned by the active commitment of many people and organisations. And I’d like to encourage all those involved in running ESF projects to let their wider communities know about ESF and the good work it is funding.